TUCSON (June 23) - Stephanie London, University of Arizona women's head tennis coach the past two seasons, will resign in August due to some long-distance family considerations.

London, 30, who led Arizona to NCAA tournament play in each of her seasons, effectively has lived in both Tucson and Laguna Niguel, Calif., for two years. Her husband, Troy Krogius, is a securities trader and has been unable to relocate in the Tucson area. The couple has a daughter, Michelle, who will be two years old in July, and are expecting their second child in September.

"I have my career as an Arizona tennis coach -- and I have my family. I can't continue to commute. I've had Michelle with me, but that's not been easy for us as a family," London said.

"It makes me sad to make the decision to leave the University of Arizona and the quality tennis program I've helped maintain. I hope to stay in coaching, but in the meantime this is the best decision for my family, which is the only thing that takes priority over my coaching," she said.

In her first year as UA's coach, the 1998 Wildcats (12-10) finished 17th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. This year's team, which extended the Cats' streak to 12 consecutive NCAA appearances, finished No. 31 with an 8-14 mark.

London, first joined the UA staff in August 1994 as assistant coach after two years in the same position at the University of Southern California. From 1996 until she was hired as head coach at UA in August 1997 she was a national coordinator for World Team Tennis, overseeing a variety of events and corporate sponsorships, among other duties.

She was a three-time All-American at USC where she earned a degree in communication arts and sciences in 1991 and later a touring professional on the Virginia Slims and Women's Tennis Association circuits. She was a California prep All-American and helped lead Miraleste High School in Rancho Palos Verdes to state championships in 1985 and 1987.

"Stephanie's done an outstanding job leading the program and we're very sorry to lose her," senior associate athletics director Kathleen LaRose said. "Tennis is easily one of the most competitive collegiate sports in the Pac-10 Conference and Arizona has every reason to be proud of her ability to maintain our stature in the league and nationally," she said.

London plans to leave the UA in early August, she said. The UA will conduct a national search for her replacement and hopes to hire a successor by the same time, LaRose said. Assistant coach Courtland Gettel will remain on the staff and he and London currently are involved in off-season recruiting chores.